Update 49 - New Enemies and IGA Asks Michiru-san

This emaciated wolf is so creepy. I guess it doesn't mind doing floor-cleaning, too.
Aya Brea and Lenneth Valkyrie would feel right at home fighting these.

As for Ms. Yamane, she is such an inspired and inspirational lady. I am glad she and Master Iga partnered again to deliver a huge hit, I am certain about it.
*Thumbs up!*

Yamane-san telling IGA he could be as vague as he wanted made me go "awwww." I hope her concert goes well.

The anecdote about her experience with the fan on IGA's team telling her some notes were off reminded me of this moment from an old Simpsons episode, but they handled the situation much, much better than the character in the clip. It's so weird knowing the people who grew up enjoying the things everyone likes are now involved with making them.


As for the new enemies, Alleo's legs look quite poofy and I like how they have a giant open beak over their head. I noticed the update never once referred to Gieremund as a dog or wolf.

Both new enemies remind me of Spider-Man villains. Alleo's overall design reminds me of Vulture and Giererereremund tongue's reminds me of Venom.

All the fanart in the update looks great. I especially like with how the Miriam cosplay includes the ribbons.

Thanks to everyone involved with bringing us the update!

I like the enemies. Colorful and smooth animation. SOTN has my favorite game soundtrack of all time, so I loved the interview with Michiru-San. Sad that she has had to experience the loss of her cat. I didn't know she was a cat lover. All her answers were great. I admire her fascination with space and it was interesting to hear her remarks on how the game influences her music. It left me wanting to know even more!

Yes! They found a way to give us classic Harpies and Hellhounds! The more ways they find to slip in variations on classic Castlevania enemies in there the better! The interview was also a nice little watch, glad to hear Yamane-san is feeling so inspired!

The mention of "moving forward" with the Rewards has me both interested and happy for a couple reasons:
1) seeing something like, say, the official cover for the Art Book and/or Soundtrack could be cool, maybe revealing some of the in-game things like a few backer portraits/enemies/weapons is in the cards as well.
2) Its another subtle but nice anti-MN9 assurance, since that launch was notorious for Backers getting the incorrect rewards if they got anything at all, letting us know they are already moving forward to ensure we get them on time is a smart move.

Quote: "Our first new enemy is Aello. This flying harpy keeps its distance from the player. Our original plan was to put her in the ship stage, where she would use physical and wind attacks."

Wait, let me take a closer look...

"...where she would use physical and wind attacks."

This quote is a little vague, but does this mean I was right to guess that there's going to be a separate "Wind" Element (magic damage) in this game, instead of it just counting as "Slash" damage?

Great update, as always. The interview with IGA asking questions to Michiru was a nice touch and the enemy designs are interesting. Deep down analysis:

MICHIRU'S INTERVIEW

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Her process to create music is quite interesting. She looks at the assets, talks with IGA and then, go to the music creator-thingy. When she said "I've got a fresh new outlook on the music, so feel free to go ahead and give me as vague of requests as you'd like." That almost made me laugh, because i can picture IGA showing her a image of a brown dark looking dungeon and saying "this is a cavern. I want a cavern-style music". Or something like that.
Congratulations on your 30th year in game music Miss Michiru! 
And i'm sorry for the lost of your cat.

AELLO

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"Aello in Greek mythology was one of the Harpy sisters who would abduct people and torture them on their way to Tartarus.
It is claimed she is the mother of Achilles's immortal steeds Balius (Balios) and Xanthus (Xanthos) by Zephyrus, but some sources claim it was really her sister Celaeno.
" -Wikipedia


I REALLY like Aello's design. Almost all Igavanias have a bird-looking monster and Bloodstained is no exception now. I love how it's fingers are, indeed, quite puffy and it's animation is simply fantastic. It's head seems to have a large bird mouth, permanently open with it's face inside it. Considering they planned it to show up on the ship stage, i can guess it is a low-level enemy, probably at the first castle area.
I can guess that, if it has a shard, it is probably something simple as Enchant (increasing INT or something) or Trigger (throwing wind attacks). About the wind element, there has been a discussion if the wind element exists in the game, since it is not a option for the backers that are creating weapons, they can't choose wind-based weapons, as if this element doesn't exist on the game. Maybe Aello's wind attacks are slash based. 
Or Wind exists, and for some reason, they blocked the weapon-creator-backers from using it for some reason.

GIEREMUND

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Gieremund seems to be a german beast of some kind. I couldn't find it's exact origin.

This one is more classic. A classic wolf/dog/four-legged beast. I love it's bizarre design, but there is not much to say about it. Gieremund seems to fill the basic "we need a dog-like enemy" slot that most Igavania games have. Aello, although also has that role (of filling up the slot of "bird-like" enemy), it has a more unique and interesting design than Gieremund.
Don't get me wrong. I liked our large-tongue dog but it is kinda..."basic", compared to Aello.
If it has a shard, i can almost bet it will be something like "call Gieremund" and Miriam will summon Gieremunds to run and hit enemies in a straight line, most probably Trigger.
Gieremund COULD be a green shard...it would be nice to have that beast as a familiar!

CLOSE COMMENTS

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Great update! Aboslutely nothing to complain, i think.

That's all folks!

the new creatures look great, I like their animations, I love yamane-sans music. was really looking forward to hearing Iga's current response to if the game will come to the Switch though, guess I have to wait a bit longer to find out.

1\Michiru Yamane with tarot cards!!! The world's first fortunetelling music composer!
2\Does anybody recognize the music 3:09~4:42? It sounds like a rearrange version of library music from SoTN?
3\Love the enemies' 3D model and animation, especially Aello.

Thanks Galamoth! I really need to review that music update now...